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Changes made to Bayou Cane bill

Published: Wednesday, April 24, 2013 at 10:02 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, April 24, 2013 at 10:02 a.m.

The House Municipal, Parochial and Cultural Affairs Committee unanimously approved legislation this week that would allow the Terrebonne Parish Council to add new members to a local fire protection district.

As originally introduced, House Bill 204 by Rep. Gordon Dove, R-Houma, would have increased the membership of the board of the Bayou Cane Fire Protection District from five members to seven.

But the committee approved an amendment to the bill that now gives the Parish Council the final authority, should it pass an ordinance, to increase the membership.

Dove said he filed the legislation to avoid local power from being consolidated into a small division of the board, since only three votes are needed for a simple majority.

“It also allows us to get more people involved and add more diversity to the board,” he said, adding there have also been problems with reaching quorums, or the majority needed to hold a meeting.

In an earlier interview, Bayou Cane Fire Chief Ken Himel said he did not have a position on the bill, nor did he file an objection with the committee at this week’s hearing.

<p>The House Municipal, Parochial and Cultural Affairs Committee unanimously approved legislation this week that would allow the Terrebonne Parish Council to add new members to a local fire protection district. </p><p>As originally introduced, House Bill 204 by Rep. Gordon Dove, R-Houma, would have increased the membership of the board of the Bayou Cane Fire Protection District from five members to seven.</p><p>But the committee approved an amendment to the bill that now gives the Parish Council the final authority, should it pass an ordinance, to increase the membership. </p><p>Dove said he filed the legislation to avoid local power from being consolidated into a small division of the board, since only three votes are needed for a simple majority. </p><p>“It also allows us to get more people involved and add more diversity to the board,” he said, adding there have also been problems with reaching quorums, or the majority needed to hold a meeting.</p><p>In an earlier interview, Bayou Cane Fire Chief Ken Himel said he did not have a position on the bill, nor did he file an objection with the committee at this week's hearing.</p><p>Dove's bill awaits debate before the full House.</p>